description The Secret Speech Overview
The Secret Speech is a historical spy thriller published in 2009 by British author Tom Rob Smith. It is the second installment in the Leo Demidov series, preceded by the novel Child 44. The narrative takes place in the Soviet Union in 1956, following the destabilization caused by Nikita Khrushchev's secret speech denouncing Joseph Stalin. The plot follows former state security agent Leo Demidov as he investigates a conspiracy while facing threats from a vengeful old enemy.
help The Secret Speech FAQ
When does The Secret Speech take place?
The novel is set in the Soviet Union in 1956, during the political uncertainty after Joseph Stalin's death. Its title refers to the period of de-Stalinization associated with Nikita Khrushchev's speech to the Communist Party Congress.
Who is Leo Demidov?
Leo Demidov is the former Soviet security officer introduced in Child 44. In The Secret Speech, he remains entangled in the consequences of his earlier work while facing new violence and political instability.
Is The Secret Speech part of a series?
Yes, it is the second novel in Tom Rob Smith's Leo Demidov series. It follows Child 44 and precedes Agent 6.
How does the novel use its Soviet setting?
The 1956 setting lets the story examine what happens when a repressive state publicly condemns some of its own past crimes. Leo's personal danger grows because political change releases old enemies and exposes the contradictions of Soviet justice.
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